Immediate Dental Implants / Teeth in a Day

Concerned about Waiting for Implants to be Restored?

When tooth loss occurs, by accident or complications with existing dental work, for example, replacing these teeth is often very important for a patient’s future dental health. Dental implants are thought of as the ideal option for replacement of teeth in this modern dental era. One of the common downsides of dental implants and dental implant restorations is the time it can take for the teeth to actually be replaced. In some instances, it can take nine to twelve months to complete an implant crown if bone grafting, sinus lifts, healing time, and laboratory fabrication time are factored into the equation. However, we have all seen commercials on television and even advertisements in print for “teeth in a day” or “All-on-four” as options to replace teeth—seemingly in one day!

Of course, this marketing is misleading, as you will never receive your tooth or teeth the same day that you first walk into any dental practice, but it certainly attracts patients to make these claims. Several variations of immediate dental implants are described in the paragraphs that follow for clarification purposes. The reality is that these implant options are often not ideal, and the reasons are described below. In some cases, however, immediate implants are a viable option, and you can have teeth in a day from Dr. Engelberg!

Dental Implants Usually Take Time

Dental implants are small screw-like cylinders placed into the bone in the place of a tooth root. The success of these implants is predicated upon the integration of the bone into the threads of the newly placed implant. The osseointegration process takes time, and waiting for the process to mature prior to functioning on the implant is the safest method to help ensure long term success of the implant. Once the process has completed over a three to six month timeframe, it is appropriate to place a porcelain crown, denture, bridge, or any other dental prosthesis.

Remember that unlike a denture that rests on a large surface area, dental implants distribute chewing forces along the implant only—thus they must be completely ready (healed and integrated) for this large amount of force. Connecting a restoration to an implant immediately increases the chance of complications, or even failure of the implant to integrate.

In the right situation, immediate dental implants can be performed. There are actually several different definitions of immediate dental implants. Traditionally, when a tooth extraction is completed, the area is grafted or allowed to heal for several months prior to an implant being placed—therefore this is not a true immediate implant. In the case of an infected tooth which must be removed, for example, it is not ideal to immediately place an implant, as the bacteria present around the infected tooth socket will potentially cause the implant to fail. The first cases of immediate implants meant that at the time of a tooth extraction, an implant would be placed. This is now very common, and Dr. Engelberg has completed this format of immediate implants hundreds of times. The catch is that the implant in this scenario is not restored with an abutment or restoration at the time of implant placement. Here, the word immediate simply means that you will have an implant below the gumline the same day you have an extraction. Several months with either no tooth or a removable prosthesis would then take place prior to the final tooth or teeth being placed.

In recent years, the definition of immediate implants has changed. Today, the option to remove a tooth, place a dental implant, and at the same time place an abutment and temporary crown have come into vogue. This is a great option when perfect situations are present—an abundance of healthy bone, free from infection, ideal esthetic circumstances, and a talented team of surgeon and restorative dentist working on the case. Weeks to months later, the final crown or prosthesis can be placed, however a fixed (non-removable) temporary tooth or teeth are in place throughout the entire process. Dr. Engelberg has completed this immediate dental implant procedure successfully many times, in the right situations, over the years. Keep in mind that the more conservative you are with time, the greater the success rate of the implants tends to be.

Finally, the third step in the evolution of immediate dental implants and teeth in a day is an option to replace an entire arch of teeth in one day with a fixed denture or denture-hybrid prosthesis. This option, in fact, does take several appointments for proper diagnostic steps to be completed. The standard of care in these cases today is a scan that allows your bone to be seen in 3D to properly plan the location of the four to six dental implants to be placed. A denture-like prosthesis is fabricated prior to placing the implants and is connected to the implants at the time of the surgery. This is a fantastic option for patients who need all of their teeth removed in a full arch—and it truly is teeth in a day. This treatment method works very well because of the splinting of multiple implants together to help support the immediate load.

Dr. Engelberg has partnered with several top surgeons in the area to offer this process to patients needing this treatment at a competitive or even lower cost with a superior final prosthesis included in the cost by comparison to larger dental chain facilities that offer similar treatment options. Please call 847-259-8030 today to reserve a consultation appointment to see if you are a candidate for this advanced and exciting procedure!

Immediate Dental Implant Restoration Options

Immediate implants can be utilized to replace a single tooth, however they are often used in larger cases. The ability to splint several implants together allows for a high success rate when implants are immediately restored, therefore a single implant is often not the best application. Immediate implants can be used to anchor a bridge or set of dentures in place. Dr. Engelberg uses state of the art technology to plan these cases and can have you leave the office with a fixed restoration in just one appointment! This requires complete accuracy and diagnostic steps to ensure both functional and cosmetic results.

Media and Publications

Whether you need simple tooth bonding or a smile makeover, Dr. Engelberg combines the very best of science with an artist's eye to craft extraordinary smiles for patients in the Arlington Heights - Chicago area.

Dramatic smile transformations cannot be performed without a healthy foundation, and that's where general dentistry comes into play. Dr. Engelberg's top priority is making sure your teeth and gums are completely healthy before performing any cosmetic procedures.

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